Let's Be Honest About Devon Weather
If you live in Devon, you have a relationship with rain. Not the sort of polite, occasional drizzle that other parts of England experience — the kind of persistent, sideways, soaks-through-your-jacket weather that can turn a Tuesday in March into something genuinely miserable if you let it. Exeter gets roughly 800mm of rainfall a year, and some weeks it feels like most of that arrives at once.
But here's the thing: if you only made plans on days when the weather was guaranteed to be nice, you'd spend half the year on your sofa watching the same three things on streaming services. And while there's nothing wrong with the occasional duvet day, consistently cancelling plans because of weather is a fast track to feeling disconnected and flat. The rain isn't going anywhere. The question is what you do with it.
Exeter, it turns out, is brilliantly set up for rainy days. The city is compact enough that you can get between indoor venues without needing an expedition, and it has a surprisingly deep roster of places where a grey, wet afternoon becomes the backdrop for something genuinely enjoyable. Some of these are obvious. Others might be new to you, even if you've lived here for years.
The social angle matters here too. Rainy days have a way of creating intimacy — you're inside, you're settled, the weather has given you permission to slow down and stay put. Some of the best conversations happen when there's nowhere else you need to be, when the rain on the window becomes white noise and the world shrinks to the table in front of you.
Exeter's Underground Passages: History Beneath Your Feet
If you haven't done the Underground Passages tour, put it at the top of your rainy day list. These medieval tunnels beneath Exeter's High Street were built in the 14th and 15th centuries to carry water from natural springs into the city — and they're the only passages of their kind open to the public in Britain.
The guided tour takes you through narrow, stone-lined tunnels that were originally constructed to house lead pipes bringing fresh water to the Cathedral precinct and the city. The experience is genuinely atmospheric — it's dark, it's cool, it's a little eerie, and the guides bring the history to life with stories that span from medieval engineering to Second World War air raid shelters.
Practical details: Adult tickets are £7.50, children £5, concessions £6, and a family ticket (two adults, up to three children) is £22. The tours run Thursday to Sunday, with last tours starting at 3pm. Booking is recommended, especially during school holidays. Children under five aren't permitted, and you'll need to be reasonably mobile as the passages involve some stooping and narrow sections.
Best for: History lovers, anyone who enjoys something genuinely unique, groups of friends or family looking for an experience rather than just an activity.
Time needed: About an hour, including the exhibition area.
Independent Cinema: Exeter Picturehouse and Exeter Phoenix
Exeter has two excellent independent cinemas, and both offer a very different experience from the standard multiplex. When it's raining, there are few better ways to spend an afternoon.
Exeter Picturehouse
Located at 51 Bartholomew Street West, the Picturehouse sits within the city walls on the site of a 1930s bus garage. During construction, Roman artefacts were discovered beneath the site — which tells you something about the layers of history in this city. The cinema has two intimate screens (167 and 131 seats) and a first-floor cafe-bar with sweeping views over the Devon countryside.
The programming is excellent — a mix of quality mainstream releases, independent films, documentaries, foreign-language cinema, and live broadcasts of opera, theatre, and music. They also run relaxed screenings designed for neurodivergent audiences and those living with dementia, with reduced volume and lights left on low. Standard tickets typically start around £10-12, with discounts for members.
Exeter Phoenix
On Bradninch Place, just off Gandy Street, Exeter Phoenix is the city's multi-arts venue. Their solar-powered cinema, Studio 74, shows an inspiring programme of independent film, documentary, and film festivals. But the Phoenix is much more than a cinema — it houses art galleries, a large auditorium for gigs and theatre, artist studios, a radio station, a print workshop, and a friendly cafe-bar serving locally sourced food.
What makes the Phoenix special on a rainy day is the sheer range of things happening under one roof. You might catch a film, browse a free exhibition, have lunch in the cafe, and discover a comedy night happening later that week — all in one visit. Check their programme at exeterphoenix.org.uk.
Best for: Couples, friends who enjoy films and culture, anyone who wants an activity that naturally leads into a conversation over food and drinks afterwards.
Time needed: Two to four hours depending on how long you linger in the cafe.
Exeter Phoenix often has free gallery exhibitions alongside their paid cinema and live events. Even if you're not buying a ticket, it's worth popping in to see what's on the walls and grab a coffee in the cafe.
RAMM: A Rainy Day Essential
The Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery on Queen Street is covered in detail in our free things to do guide, but it deserves a mention here because it's arguably Exeter's single best rainy day destination. It's free, it's fascinating, and you can easily spend two to three hours exploring its galleries without noticing the time.
The museum's collections cover everything from world cultures and natural history to fine art and Exeter's own story. The building itself is a beautiful example of Victorian Gothic architecture that feels warm and welcoming even on the greyest day. And because it's free, there's no pressure — you can pop in for twenty minutes or stay all morning.
Best for: Everyone. Genuinely everyone. Solo visitors, couples, families, groups of friends.
Time needed: One to three hours.
Board: The Board Game Cafe
Board, located at 79 South Street, is the South West's first board game cafe, and it's become something of a local institution. The concept is simple: choose from over 300 board and card games, settle into cosy seating, and play for up to three hours. Staff are on hand to suggest games based on your group size, vibe, and experience level, and they'll help you set up and explain the rules.
The game library ranges from nostalgic classics like Cluedo and Monopoly to modern hits like Catan, Ticket to Ride, and Wingspan. There's a full food and drinks menu — this isn't a dusty games cupboard in someone's spare room, it's a proper venue with a proper kitchen.
What makes Board brilliant for rainy days is that it creates its own atmosphere. You don't need the weather to be nice. You don't even need to know what you want to do when you arrive. The games provide structure and entertainment, and they have a way of drawing people out — the competitive friend who takes Catan far too seriously, the quiet one who turns out to be devastating at strategy games. It's socialising with a built-in activity, which makes it particularly good for groups that include people who don't know each other well.
Best for: Groups of friends, couples, anyone who wants a social activity with built-in entertainment.
Time needed: Two to three hours.
Price: Booking is recommended, especially at weekends. Check their website for current pricing.
Escape Rooms: Prodigy Escapes
Escape rooms are tailor-made for rainy days — they're entirely indoors, they last exactly an hour, and they give you something to talk about for weeks afterwards. Prodigy Escapes, located right in the heart of Exeter, offers several themed rooms where teams work together to solve clues, uncover secrets, and escape within 60 minutes.
The rooms are immersive and well-designed, with themes ranging from adventure to mystery. They accommodate different group sizes and difficulty levels, so they work whether you're a first-timer or an escape room veteran. Student and Blue Light card holders get up to 15% off for groups of four or more.
Escape Hunt on Paris Street is another option in the city, offering additional themed rooms and experiences.
Best for: Groups of friends, team-building, competitive types who enjoy problem-solving under pressure.
Time needed: About 90 minutes including briefing and debrief.
Price: Varies by group size and room — typically £20-30 per person.
Tenpin Exeter: Bowling and Beyond
Sometimes you want an activity that's straightforwardly fun without any pretence. Tenpin Exeter, at Havenbanks Retail Park, delivers exactly that. With 26 bowling lanes plus escape rooms, laser tag, and arcade games, it's a one-stop shop for rainy day entertainment.
A single game of bowling starts from around £8.55 per person, with deals available online and on quieter days — Sunday evenings, for instance, have offered three games for £9 in the past. It's not the cheapest afternoon out, but if you're splitting it between a group, it's reasonable — and there's something about bowling that brings out the best in people. Even those who are terrible at it (especially those who are terrible at it).
Best for: Families, groups of friends, anyone who wants a casual, fun activity without having to think too hard.
Time needed: One to two hours.
Cosy Pubs With Character
When the rain is really hammering down and all you want is warmth, good drinks, and nowhere to be, Exeter's best pubs come into their own. Here are the ones that feel particularly right on a wet day:
The Hour Glass
On the corner of Melbourne Street and Colleton Row, The Hour Glass has wood-panelled walls, an open fire, and Exeter Brewery ales on tap. It's small, it's warm, it's the kind of place where the rain outside makes everything inside feel better. Two hours here on a rainy afternoon with a good friend and a couple of pints is about as close to contentment as it gets.
The Old Firehouse
At 50 New North Road, the Old Firehouse is a favourite with locals and students alike. The atmosphere is informal and genuinely cosy, with local ales and ciders alongside their famous 14-inch square pizzas. It's open late (until around 2:30am at weekends), serves food that's honest and filling, and has the kind of worn-in warmth that chains can never replicate.
The Fat Pig
Hidden away at 2 John Street, The Fat Pig is a freehouse with its own onsite brewery, distillery, and smokehouse. The gin, rum, vodka, and ales are all made on the premises. On a rainy day, there's something deeply satisfying about hunkering down in a place this characterful with a drink that was literally made in the next room.
Rainy days are often when pubs are at their best — fewer crowds, cosier atmosphere, and that particular pleasure of being warm and dry while listening to rain on the windows. If you've been meaning to try one of Exeter's independent pubs, a wet Wednesday evening is the perfect excuse.
Quay Climbing Centre: Scale the Walls
If you want a rainy day activity that leaves you feeling genuinely accomplished rather than just entertained, the Quay Climbing Centre on Exeter's historic Quayside is outstanding. Housed in the old Electricity Building, it features the South West's largest indoor climbing wall — 81 roped walls with routes from 7 to 15 metres, 9 auto belays, and a mix of styles suitable for complete beginners through to experienced climbers.
The Clip 'n Climb section has 26 unique challenges using auto belays, suitable for ages four and up, including a Leap of Faith and Stairway to Heaven. It's the kind of place where an hour feels like fifteen minutes, and where the shared experience of clinging to a wall while rain hammers outside creates the sort of bonding that a quiet coffee simply cannot replicate.
The Workshop Cafe serves proper food — paninis, daily specials, sweet treats — so you can refuel afterwards without leaving the building. First-timer sessions and introductory courses are available for those who've never climbed before.
Best for: Friends, couples, families, anyone who wants a physical challenge with a social element.
Time needed: One to two hours.
Raceworld Indoor Karting
For a rainy day with genuine adrenaline, Raceworld at Greendale Business Park (about fifteen minutes from central Exeter towards Sidmouth) has a 400-metre indoor circuit with fast straights, technical corners, and a flyover bridge. They've been running for over nineteen years and the circuit is designed to challenge experienced drivers while remaining accessible to complete novices.
Drivers must be over eleven and at least 155cm tall. The venue is open seven days a week, though booking is strongly recommended as race events fill up quickly. Group packages for birthdays and corporate events are available with exclusive track hire.
It is not the cheapest rainy day option, but split between a group of friends, the cost per person is reasonable for an experience that generates stories. The competitive element brings out a side of people you don't see over a quiet lunch — and that is half the fun.
Best for: Groups of friends, competitive types, anyone who needs to burn off energy indoors.
Time needed: One to two hours including briefing.
Boom Battle Bar: Games and Cocktails
If you want something more energetic than a pub but less formal than a restaurant, Boom Battle Bar on the High Street offers a fully interactive gaming experience. Augmented reality darts, crazy golf, axe throwing, shuffleboard, beer pong — it's a bar where the games are the point, and they're all indoors.
The atmosphere is lively and social, making it particularly good for birthdays, group outings, or any occasion where you want people to actually interact rather than sit in a row looking at their phones. Happy hour deals include 2-for-1 cocktails, which takes the edge off the prices.
Best for: Groups looking for an energetic, social evening. Works well for birthdays and celebrations.
Time needed: Two to three hours.
Shopping: From Indie to Vintage
When it's raining, shopping becomes less of an errand and more of an activity. Exeter's shopping options go well beyond the usual high street chains:
Gandy Street — Exeter's answer to Diagon Alley, this narrow lane off the High Street is home to independent shops, vintage stores, and quirky boutiques. Browsing here feels like exploring, not shopping. In December, it's even better — see our Christmas in Exeter guide for seasonal details.
Exeter's Antiques Centre on the Quay — Fifteen to twenty dealers under one roof, selling everything from vintage jewellery to old books, coins, and vinyl records. Open seven days a week, and even if you don't buy anything, the browsing is brilliant.
Charity shop circuits — Exeter has an excellent charity shop scene. Hospiscare has five shops in the city alone, and you'll find Scope, British Heart Foundation, Sue Ryder (in Heavitree), and others scattered across the centre. A rainy afternoon charity shop crawl with a friend is surprisingly good fun — and surprisingly good for your wallet if you find the right things.
St Sidwell's Point: Swim or Spa
For a rainy day that involves actively feeling better rather than just passing time, St Sidwell's Point Leisure Centre is worth considering. This modern facility offers a swimming pool (adult swim just £4.50 per session), plus a thermal spa on the upper floors with rooftop views, spa pools, heated stone beds, a salt vapour room, and foot spas.
A pay-as-you-go spa session costs £35 for three hours, which isn't cheap but is significantly less than a hotel spa day. If you're splitting the day with a swim and then treating yourself to the spa, it becomes a proper rainy day experience — the kind where you leave feeling genuinely refreshed rather than just less bored.
Best for: Anyone who wants a rainy day treat that's good for body and mind.
Time needed: Two to four hours.
The Social Case for Rainy Days
Here's what nobody tells you about rainy days: they're often when the best socialising happens. There's a reason the most meaningful conversations tend to happen in cosy corners with bad weather outside. The rain removes the pressure of "what should we do?" and replaces it with "let's just be somewhere nice together." There's no fear of missing out on a beautiful day. There's no rushing to get somewhere before the sun goes in. You're inside, you're settled, and the world has given you permission to stay put and talk.
If you're new to Exeter and finding your feet socially, rainy days are actually your friend. A coffee shop with a window seat, a museum gallery, a board game cafe — these are the settings where real connections are built. Not the big nights out (though those have their place), but the quiet, unhurried hours where you discover what someone is actually like when there's nothing to distract from the conversation.
Devon's rain isn't going away. But with the right mindset and the right venue, it's not a problem to solve — it's an atmosphere to enjoy. If the weather has you feeling genuinely flat rather than just inconvenienced, our seasonal affective disorder guide has strategies for keeping your mood and your social life intact through the wetter months.
When the Rain Stops: Have a Plan B Ready
The best rainy days in Exeter often turn into something better when the weather clears unexpectedly. Keep a mental list of outdoor follow-ups: a walk along the Exe Estuary trail to Topsham, a wander around Exeter Quay, or a quick trip to Budleigh Salterton to catch the coast while it's still moody and dramatic. The transition from cosy indoor afternoon to a brisk walk in clearing skies is one of Devon's underrated pleasures.
For a full guide to what's on in Exeter across the year — rain or shine — our events guide covers everything from festivals to film screenings. And if you're a student looking for cheap activities, many of the options in this guide are either free or very affordable.
Next time the forecast looks grim, text a friend and suggest one of these activities instead of cancelling. The worst rainy days are the ones spent alone wishing you'd made plans. The best ones are the ones where the weather gave you an excuse to slow down and actually connect.
If you're looking for a social evening that's completely taken care of — venue, food, company, and conversation — our dinners are designed for exactly that, rain or shine.